Newcastle United reportedly took a surprising approach to the possibility of hiring an alternative to Eddie Howe as manager.
Magpie won the Carabao Cup this season, and Howe won Liverpool 2-1 at Wembley, giving the club their first silverware in 56 years.
But surprisingly, this doesn’t seem enough for Newcastle to stick with him in the next stage of their project.
According to a surprise report from the football transfer, NUFC is first in contact with former Barcelona boss Xavi.
The Spanish tactician won the La Liga with Barca in 2022/23 and has not quit his job since leaving the Catalan Giants at the end of last season.
Is Xavi ideal for replacing Eddie Howe in Newcastle?
Zabi is certainly an impressive manager who can do great things in Newcastle, but it seems very tough for the club to consider replacing Howe at this stage.
The English tactician has not only been waiting for the club’s long silverware, but is now fourth in the Premier League table.
If Howe helps Newcastle qualify for the Champions League again, he certainly deserves more time to continue the great progress he has made.
However, Newcastle owners are ambitious and will likely see them as candidates who can really take someone like Xavi to the next level.
Xavi wants to go back to management
As mentioned in the Football Transfer Report, Xavi speaks of his desire to return to management immediately.
Such a big job in the Premier League will certainly appeal to the 45-year-old, 45, who wants to bounce back after being disappointed in leaving Barca.
Xavi has had an incredible playing career and has established himself as one of the best midfielders of his generation, but it will be interesting to see if he can have a similar impact on coaching.